Shop for Good event raises $7,234

LACONIA —The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction today announced that a collaborative fundraising event held in Center Harbor recently raised $7,234 for the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. 

Businesses participating in the Shop for Good event were Home Comfort, Lakes Region Computer, Gusto Italian Market, Ben and Jerry’s, Roughwood, The Makers Bazaar, and Bayswater Books.

“We are pleased to be able to support an organization that provides basic needs to area children,” said Luke Dupuis, owner at Home Comfort. “The need is still tremendous in the Greater Lakes Region area, but not greater than the hearts, commitment, and passion within our community—the real heroes who make the magic happen every year. Together, we help so many, and we are proud to continue making a difference within the greater Lakes Region.”

Over the past four decades, the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction has distributed over $7.5 million dollars to nonprofits that serve under-resourced children and families in the area.

To get involved, visit ChildrensAuction.com or call 603-527-0999.

About the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction is a charitable event held every December in central New Hampshire. Countless volunteers and donors have turned the Auction and its many fundraising events, including the 2022 Community Challenge, into a major annual campaign. In the 40 years that the community has come together for the Auction, an impressive $7.5 million has been awarded to local nonprofit organizations, all through volunteer efforts, community donations, and corporate sponsorship. The Greater Lakes Region Charitable Fund for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps community organizations in the Central New Hampshire region. For more information about the Auction, the nonprofits it supports, and how you can help, visit ChildrensAuction.com.

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This donation is twice the amount of the first and will benefit businesses and consumers in the region

FLORENCE—For the second time in two years, Keiter Corporation has made a sizeable donation to the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce for a promotion that allows consumers to purchase a $25 Northampton gift card and receive $50 in actual spending power. 

The most recent gift of $20,000—twice the amount of that made in August 2021—was made to provide economic stimulus in the post-pandemic era and also create goodwill in the community. Billed as the “Strengthen the Community with a Keiter Card” campaign, the latest donation will be supplemented by a $5,000 contribution from the Chamber’s Community Revitalization Fund; this means 1,000 of the double-valued gift cards will be sold.

The promotion will launch on August 9 and the $25 Keiter Gift Cards will be sold while supplies last. Cards will be sold only at the Chamber offices at 99 Pleasant St. in Northampton on weekdays between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Consumers must mention that they want a Keiter Card, and the promotion applies only to $25 Northampton gift card purchases. (A $50 gift card would not be valued at $100, for instance.)

There is a limit of one card per customer, per transaction.

“Our community matters to us,” said Scott Keiter, founder and president of Keiter. “This is where we live and where our families live, and the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all of us. After the campaign’s success last year, we’re thrilled to invest even more in our community this year to keep Northampton thriving.”

Based in Florence, Keiter has provided general contracting and construction management services in the Valley since 2010 for its commercial and residential projects.

Keiter is a member of the Northampton Chamber’s Board of Directors and its Finance Committee, so he is personally aware of the financial challenges that local merchants continue to experience post-pandemic.

Last year’s “Kickstart the Community” promotion was a huge success. In eight days, the program infused $27,500 into the local economy. “That was an unprecedented boost to local businesses in the wake of the pandemic,” Keiter said. “The community’s engagement and participation inspired us to help with recovery once again.” 

Keiter Corporation’s tagline is “Develop. Build. Manage.” It reflects what Keiter is doing in the community through these investments.

The Northampton Gift Card is currently accepted at over 80 local businesses, including restaurants, shops, service locations, spas, and other establishments.

To learn more, visit Keiter.com or call the Chamber at 413-584-1900. 

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Le BonNton offers Bohemian home décor and Ooh La La, women’s lingerie and loungewear

NORTHAMPTON—Two women entrepreneurs with a passion for artistry and design have opened shops in Thornes Marketplace, one offering Bohemian home décor and the other, women’s lingerie and loungewear. 

Cigdem “Chi” Turkomer, the owner of Le BonNton, originally located on Old South Street, moved into Thornes last June, relocating several times within the building over the past year and recently settling permanently on the second floor.

In its fifth year, Le BonNton offers linens, furniture, and other décor, which Turkomer also provides for a fee to couples through her wedding design service. On June 10 from 5-8 p.m., Thornes will host a fifth-anniversary celebration for Le BonNton in the shop, with music, local art displays, and Turkish Delight sweets prepared by Turkomer.

Ali Ingellis, owner of Ooh La La, opened her boutique on the first floor of the historic shopping center in downtown Northampton in May. The lingerie and loungewear she designs and produces are inspired by history and nature, and she describes her shop as, “Beautiful, unapologetically feminine, intimate—like your best friend’s closet.”

Both women said they chose Thornes Marketplace for the downtown location, foot traffic, and ambiance, and they are thrilled with the support they have received thus far from management.

“The merchants here are carefully selected,” Turkomer said. “There is a balance. And management is very professional, kind, and warm-hearted. It’s a privilege to be here.”

Ingellis said, “As a first-time shop owner, Thornes has the safety net I needed. I have experienced this in my opening week, receiving so much support and encouragement from everyone in the building. The management team has created a place where businesses thrive. They support, encourage, and work together to help you get started right.”

Turkomer, of Northampton, was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and came to Northampton in 1990 to learn English with a tutor. She studied film production at San Francisco State University and returned to Istanbul, launching a career as a set designer for documentaries and commercial films; she has also worked as an interior designer.

She put her skill, experience, and sensibilities to work for her locally after returning to Northampton in 2016 with her two children, both graduates of Northampton High School.

She opened Le BonNton in 2017, offering everything from clothing made from hand-woven fabrics and other quality textiles to jewelry and home accessories such as rugs, brass candlesticks and lamps, and cotton pillowcases. Educated in a French missionary school in Istanbul for 12 years, Turkomer named the business by combining “Le Bonton,” which means “elegant form or style” in French, with the abbreviation for Northampton, “Nton.”

Drawing on the connections she made with vendors in the film industry, Turkomer buys her inventory from suppliers offering ethically manufactured products as well as from women-owned vendors. Many of her products are custom-made.

“Customers say they feel like they’re traveling to another country,” she said, noting they began to ask if she would rent her products for weddings and other events. This demand prompted Turkomer to diversify, and she began offering wedding design services, complete with décor from linens to brass trays to rugs. 

The pandemic soon quashed that rental venture, and Turkomer closed her physical shop 2020, opening a kiosk in Thornes to manage her retail sales and offer elopement wedding services. 

“I don’t like big cities and consuming too much in the malls,” she said. “I don’t like plastic or synthetics, so what I have in my store is my lifestyle. I believe in making your own space with your soul—for your mind, body, and health. We need texture and color in our lives. We need things that make us feel special.”

Turkomer has memories of Thornes from her first stay here decades ago. “I love the Middle Eastern-bazaar feel of it,” she said. “I love the connection with my customers. I love that this is communication, friendship, neighborhood. I feel like I’m home.”

Ingellis, of Amherst, was originally from Martha’s Vineyard. She holds a degree in philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. She grew up hearing the stories of familial female role models who were entrepreneurs. Her great-great grandmother ran a guest house on Martha’s Vineyard, and her great grandmother, Dorothy Darling, ran two restaurants in Oak Bluffs into the 1960s. 

In her shop in Thornes, the first thing customers see is a photo of Darling as a child, and she has named her first collection of lingerie the Darling Collection in homage to her. Her loungewear is inspired by evenings spent on the beach on the Vineyard; it is called Menemsha Collection after the fishing village with the world-famous sunset.  

“I have always loved lingerie and the incredible way it transforms your essence in a very private way. When you wear something beautiful close to your skin, it changes your perspective on your day, and even on yourself,” said Ingellis, who worked for various small businesses in the area—including Paul and Elizabeth’s—after graduating from Mount Holyoke. 

She also is an accomplished equestrian and founded the Amherst Equestrian Center, which she still operates. 

Ingellis founded Ooh La La in 2020; Thornes is her first location. “The connection to women and those shopping for women fuels my creativity,” she said. “I love hearing what drives someone to choose their garments.”

To learn more about Thornes Marketplace, visit thornesmarketplace.com.

Thornes Marketplace has been the cornerstone of downtown Northampton and at the center of the Main Street shopping district for more than a century. Built in 1873, it holds 55,000 square feet of space for merchants and includes features like pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors.

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank, a mutually-owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through 12 branch locations, today announced the appointment of Douglas Gilbert of Agawam to the position of vice president / commercial lending.

Gilbert comes to Florence Bank with more than 27 years of banking experience, most recently at Country Bank, where he served as first vice president and team leader in the Commercial Lending Department. His duties there included managing the commercial lending team and an extensive loan portfolio. His experience also includes serving as vice president and head of commercial lending at Easthampton Savings Bank and as assistant vice president in commercial lending at Westfield Bank.

Gilbert is a certified public accountant who earned an undergraduate degree from Westfield State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Connecticut. He also serves on the board of the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corporation.

Gilbert said, “It is a great opportunity to be affiliated with Florence Bank, which has such an excellent reputation and does so much good in the community. Everyone here has made me feel right at home from the beginning.”

Kevin R. Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank, said, “Doug is a great addition to the Florence Bank team. His significant lending experience coupled with his knowledge of the communities we serve will be a tremendous value to our business customers.”

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette. 

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FLORENCE—Florence Bank has promoted Anita Sedlak of Easthampton to the position of vice president / branch manager of the Easthampton office.

Sedlak brings extensive knowledge and skill to her new role. Prior to her recent promotion, she was the senior assistant branch manager at the Easthampton office. During her tenure at the bank, she has been the recipient of the Florence Bank Community Support Award, which is granted to employees who demonstrate superior levels of involvement in the community. She is also a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. 

Sedlak proudly serves her community as treasurer of Easthampton Dollars for Scholars, finance committee member for Easthampton Helping Hand Society, and as a board member of the Florence Bank Easthampton Branch Charitable Foundation. 

Kevin R. Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank, said, “We are happy to have Anita take on this new role as vice president, branch manager. Her knowledge of the Easthampton community and rapport with our customers make her the perfect choice to serve in this capacity.” 

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 11 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, West Springfield, and Springfield. Florence Bank recently opened its twelfth branch in Chicopee. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses.  Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  

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Chicopee location to open March 22, ribbon cutting slated for May 5

CHICOPEE—Florence Bank will open its third Hampden County branch at 705 Memorial Drive in Chicopee on March 22, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for May 5.

“We’re very pleased to be expanding our presence in Hampden County,” said Kevin R. Day, Florence Bank’s president and CEO. “Our focus is on providing great customer service and helping to reinvigorate the community.”

A small number of bank employees, board members, and corporators will be present for the in-person, socially distanced, ribbon cutting, along with Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau. 

The Chicopee branch has an open floor plan with two teller pods and innovative technology for quick cash handling. The location will also feature a drive-up ATM with SMART technology for easy depositing. 

Kimberly Downing of Wilbraham will serve as assistant vice president / branch manager for the new location. “Florence Bank is known for providing exceptional customer service, so of course I’m thrilled to be part of the team and represent the Florence Bank brand for people in Chicopee,” she said.

Downing attended Holyoke Community College and has 35 years of banking experience. She will manage the daily operations and growth of the branch. She serves as a committee member for McDonald’s Nature Preserve in Wilbraham. 

Day said, “We are happy Kimberly chose to join the Florence Bank team. Her extensive banking experience and dedication to customer service will serve the Chicopee community well.”

Other employees who will staff the new location are Diane Afonso, assistant branch manager; Tracy Keefe, customer service representative (CSR) and senior teller; Kiara Sonoda, teller operations manager; and Karen Willemain, senior teller.

In August 2017, Florence Bank opened its first branch in Hampden County at 1010 Union St. in West Springfield, and in December 2018, the bank opened its second location near the southern Massachusetts border, on Allen Street in Springfield. 

“With the addition of a branch in Chicopee, our third in Hampden County, we can really say we’re here, and we’re going to be part of this community for a long time,” Day said.

Florence Bank has nearly 5,000 customers living in Hampden County, including 750 business customers, and Day said the bank looks forward to deepening its impact in the region and working with neighboring businesses.

Florence Bank, chartered in 1873, is unique in that it’s a mutually-owned savings bank, meaning it does not need to pay dividends to stockholders. That mutuality, Day said, allows the bank to make decisions about what’s best for customers and the community.

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 11 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, West Springfield, and Springfield. Florence Bank will soon open a twelfth branch in Chicopee. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses.  Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  

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I help the leaders of Thornes Marketplace in Northampton, Massachusetts, by writing press releases that focus in on shop owners and also announce new events or milestones. After the release is sent to the media, I repurpose the material as a blog that gets posted on the Thornes website. The blog below was written this summer, after Thornes announced its reopening.

Sharon Cohen, the owner of Footbeats for Women on the main level of Thornes Marketplace, entered her fourth year in business on July 1. It’s a difficult time, but like all merchants in our eclectic shopping center, Sharon is working hard to reach customers and ensure their safety.

Thornes reopened for business on June 8 after putting many new protocols and equipment in place, including air filters that heighten air quality, foggers that sanitize the building nightly, and door monitors at each of the two open entrances to ensure that people entering Thornes wear masks and sanitize their hands. Thornes also installed hands-free door openers on bathroom doors.

Without college students and tourists from out of town, business is slower than is typical for this time of year, but customers are returning steadily. Shops owners such as Sharon, who have also instituted countless safety measures, are happy to see them.

“We’ve revamped the way the store is laid out to promote social distancing,” Sharon says. “Shoppers are saying, ‘I just wanted to shop with somebody locally.’ We’re hearing a lot of that. I think that’s awesome.”

After Thornes—and most retail and other industries statewide—were shut down this spring due to COVID-19, Sharon launched a website at footbeatsforwomen.com, so customers could still purchase her shoes. She made deliveries to peoples’ homes.

Every Friday afternoon, she also began using Facebook live to talk about shoes in stock and offer commentary on trends and new styles. “I pick them off the displays on the wall and talk about them. Customers would text and ask questions about cost or size,” she says, noting she will likely continue that practice. “We tried new, inventive ways to meet the customers.”

Sharon also says when customers try on a pair of shoes in the store, if they are leather and cannot be sanitized, they are put in quarantine for 24 hours, as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) guidelines.

Thornes itself has the safety of shoppers, store owners, and staff at the forefront as it expands and flexes systems and operations.

“Thornes has done a lot to prepare for our opening, and we continue to stay educated and follow safety protocols,” Thornes Co-President Richard Madowitz says. “We are receiving consistent positive feedback from shoppers on the cleanliness of the building and their comfort. We are providing a safe environment.”

He adds, “We have installed iWave ionizing air filters in all AC air handlers in the building to ensure high air quality, and we’ve purchased foggers that allow us to do extensive sanitizing overnight, while we are closed.”

Masks are available at the two open entrances, which are on Main Street and at the skywalk to and from the parking garage. “Masks are not required for those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing one,” Rich adds.

All shared tables and chairs on the building’s second and third floors, such as Share Coffee’s seating, have been removed, and directional arrows on the floors separate traffic and promote social distancing, as do stanchions throughout.

“Signage is everywhere,” Rich stresses. “Each store is managing its state-mandated capacity count, and Thornes itself is managing the state-mandated capacity counts for its common spaces without shops.”

Every morning before work, all Thornes staff follow CDCP protocols, running through a COVID-19 readiness checklist before reporting for work.

All shops in Thornes are open daily.

Thornes Marketplace has been the cornerstone of downtown Northampton and at the center of the Main Street shopping district for more than a century. Built in 1873, it holds 55,000 square feet of space for merchants and includes features like pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors.

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I am extremely proud of my clients as they respond to the spread of COVID-19 across the world—and the region. While all are taking swift action, I offer a shout-out to those who are using PR as a way to communicate information and offer solace.

Florence Bank is one of many clients responding in a clear and open manner. Early on, the bank created a banner at the top of its website, announcing both updates from the bank regarding branch hours and protocols and also providing links to key information, such as how to access accounts remotely and how to protect from fraud at this time. On social media, Florence Bank is helping customers by providing links to museums so children can take virtual tours, offering links to demos on how to make a deposit remotely, and staff there are also offering fun posts on ways to spend time during this crisis. Great job to Monica Curhan and her team in marketing.

Thornes Marketplace, which had to close its doors early on, put a message on its website for community members—“We will remain closed for as long as is required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As additional information is available, we are committed to communicating to you in a timely manner. Many of our merchants are selling their goods on line.” Mindful of the potential devastation for all the shops within its walls, Thornes has helped promote those businesses on its Facebook page. This post in particular lets people know which Thornes stores have products available online. Some posts are also playful, such as a sneak peek at Patria, the new restaurant under development on the lower level. Well done, Jody Doele, at Thornes!

As a Valley, we are responding well to the personal and economic devastation, and that does not surprise me. We are compassionate and intelligent folks here. I am certain we will help each other get through to the other, disease-free side. Try to think of the ways that you can support local businesses; one friend of mine is committed to ordering takeout food from a local restaurant at least once per week.

Up north in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, where my husband and I own a vacation home, and where my brothers Jeff and Allan Beetle co-own a restaurant named Patrick’s Pub & Eatery, I am also proud of the response. My brothers, in particular, are committed to keeping the restaurant open for delivery-only for community members who need the help with meals and for the staff, who rely on the employment. Allan spends countless hours each day, gathering feedback, brainstorming new ideas, and nimbly creating new systems that allow Patrick’s to operate with the goal of remaining open to support others. Like other restaurants in New Hampshire, Patrick’s was forced to close the night before St. Patrick’s Day, Patrick’s biggest day of the year. The restaurant offered take-out corned beef meals at the curbside—but donated half of the proceeds to a local food program. That’s my brothers.

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For the past few years, I’ve been writing blogs for Florence Bank that shine a light on commercial bank customers—typically entrepreneurs who started their businesses and built them over time. The blogs post in a series called From the Ground Up. This particular post features the owners of Familiars Coffee & Tea in Northampton. 

Danny McColgan knew tea. His business and life partner, Isaac Weiner, had experience as a barista. Together, they had the passion, knowledge, experience, and good taste to run their own coffee house. But there were still many roadblocks to starting out on their own—fear and funding chief among them. 

Then, several years ago, Isaac’s father showed them a clip from the Wall Street Journal, a feature story highlighting peoples’ various regrets, by decade. Danny says, “The regret for people in their 20s was not taking enough risk when you had the time to bounce back.”

Danny, 28, and Isaac, 30, realized then they had the time to fail, change gears, and recover, if need be. So, they threw themselves into the hard work that eventually enabled them to become the owners of Familiars Coffee & Tea at 6 Strong Avenue in Northampton; Florence Bank is proud to have them as business customers.

Creating a dream

When Danny and Isaac put their energy into their dream, Danny had served as a manager at a loose-leaf tea retailer in Boston, and he held a bachelor’s in art history from the Mass College of Art and Design in the same city. Isaac had a solid resume in coffeehouse operations and management as well as a bachelor’s in religion and philosophy from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

Isaac was relatively new to the Pioneer Valley; Danny grew up in Springfield. They had discovered what the area had to offer in terms of coffeehouses—and Isaac had worked in several—and they thought they could compete. “We knew it was time to take that terrifying jump,” Isaac says. 

The two developed an ironclad business plan, which they took to friends and family members to build financial support. Two years ago, with their own funds and those from others, they connected with Gary Perman, who owns the diner that houses Familiars. 

Preserving history

The lunch car was manufactured at a plant in Worcester in the 1930s. Over the years, it has housed Miss Northampton Diner, the Red Lion Diner, and, most recently, Kathy’s Diner.

Perman bought Kathy’s Diner from Kathy Tefft in 2013 and originally intended to raze it and build a parking lot. When he discovered the rich history, he decided to play to that strength. He signed a lease with Danny and Isaac, and, over two years, they brought new life to the property that Perman had already gutted.

Familiars opened in February, offering a wide range of quality coffees and teas as well as breakfast and lunch. The restaurant has a new floor plan as well as high-quality vintage highlights from antique wooden walls to steel and stone elements.

Building a brand 

With an abundance of coffee shops and cafes in the Northampton area, Danny and Isaac knew they needed a niche. What they came up with is a broad range of high-quality coffees and specialty teas, good food that is served “insanely fast”—for people who stop in on a break from work—,and excellent customer service. 

“We feel like having a marriage of all three of those aspects would make us stand out,” Danny says.

Customers tend to be people who work in downtown Northampton and run over to the coffee shop on a break, people who come in to sit and work or network, and people who simply enjoy eating in coffee shops. 

In working to meet the “good food” criteria, Danny and Isaac offer fresh foods and a variety of vegetarian and vegan options; avocados and tempeh bacon are featured in many menu items.

Produce comes from Boston markets, Hudson Valley, and the Pioneer Valley, when in season and available. Vegan cream cheese is purchased at Cornucopia in Northampton. 

Fears

Isaac says the biggest fear he and Danny have is letting down those who supported them. That will likely not be an issue, though. “We’re ahead of schedule,” Isaac says. “We hit our first-year income projections in the first six months. I do think it’s going very well.” 

The staff fluctuates between 10 to 15 people, depending on the season, which ebbs and flows as the region’s college students come and go. Danny says weather also affects the traffic in the diner. “Rain is worse than snow,” Danny says, noting people don’t want to run out for food on a rainy day. 

Both Danny and Isaac are grateful to Florence Bank, which holds the business’ bank account. “We thought it would be better for our brand to work with Florence Bank,” he says. “Florence Bank is not pushy. It has a relaxed way of guiding us as new businesspeople. We receive great customer service.”

Staff also come into the coffee shop to eat, and Isaac says it’s easy for one of them to run up to the corner to make a deposit. Also, when large purchases are necessary, it’s easy to put in a call to a Florence Bank staff person to increase the spending limit temporarily. 

Advice for young entrepreneurs

Young people starting off in business should know that it is every bit as hard as people say it is. Danny and Isaac spend 90 percent of their time at the diner, rarely experiencing time off together and working at least 12 or 13 hours at a time. 

They also say people should lean on friends and family for support ranging from funding to services. Their grassroots-friend-and-family efforts have provided them with free advice, ideas, and marketing and design services.

Currently, Danny and Isaac are involved in a rebranding that draws more on the building’s history, and they will soon launch a new website. “We’re excited with the direction we’re taking and excited we’re even able to pursue that,” Danny says.

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I have started helping Beyond Green Construction in Easthampton, Massachusetts, with raising awareness through PR and digital marketing. This is the first piece I wrote for co-owner Sean Jeffords. It was recently published in the Gazette’s Easthampton Area Business Guide 2019. 

You’ll never see anyone on the Beyond Green Construction team tossing a recyclable into a dumpster on a job site. Members of the Easthampton company have too much respect for the planet. Along with their experience and knowledge, the dedication fuels their work as home improvement contractors.

Founded by three brothers in 1998, Beyond Green Construction takes on jobs from whole-home remodels and kitchen and bathroom renovations and additions to commercial projects. What sets the firm apart is a focus on saving home and business owners money on energy costs, creating signature designs, and improving overall comfort.

“When people do home improvement projects, they can partner with us in making intentional change that will result in reduced energy costs and a more comfortable home,” co-owner Sean Jeffords said. “Homeowners can create their own solar energy and choose whether they want to be connected to the grid.”

Jeffords said helping people save energy and go solar feels critical. “Solar helps people make a difference and reduce their impact on the environment while saving money on their utility bills,” he said. “It’s much more affordable than some might think.”

While you will never find Jeffords knocking on your door with a high-pressure presentation to sell you solar, he will meet in a no-cost consultation and explain the options for reducing energy and going solar. He can also discuss available incentives and financial support.  

Jeffords graduated from the carpentry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in 1994, and established Beyond Green Construction with his brothers Andy and Jamey in 1998.

This summer, Beyond Green Construction had a booth at many community events, at which staff volunteers handed out free drinks and snacks to event-goers. More substantially, the company also has stewardship programs, through which it donates services to mission-driven organizations with specific projects on their wish lists.

Jeffords said this year, Beyond Green Construction participated in a schoolhouse renovation at Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary and is also donating the insulation for a museum renovation at Historic Northampton. “We recognize the importance of giving back to our community. We want to foster the ability that nonprofits have to get good work done,” he said.  

Contact Beyond Green Construction at 413-529-0544 to talk about a renovation to your home, business, or mission-driven organization or visit www.BeyondGreen.biz.

Contact me if you need help writing an article for a business or trade publication.

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